November 20, 2014 |
Fashion stylist/co-founder and creative director, Newbark
You’ve got to have some chutzpah to be telling full-blown icons of rock’n’roll what to wear.
Well, not according to Malakpour, who is known for giving The Rolling Stones their late-1990s signature look alongside her sister, Marjan Malakpour. In fact, she says, the greatest misconception people have of her is that she’s “being a bitch”, because she’s “just a very introverted person”. But then sometimes people lead quietly. Styling is, after all, a visual communication, and since 2009 the sisters’ new point of lead has been comfortable luxury, with a range of shoes and handbags. Naming their brand NewbarK on the basis of the saying “my dogs are barking” (meaning my feet ache), their famous flats are good enough even to coax Team Ten out of their trademark stillies. No, seriously.
How long have you lived in LA?
“I moved to LA in the mid-1980s and have been living here since.”
What’s your favourite thing to do in LA?
“One thing that I love to do is stay at home and entertain at home. We have great dinner parties and summer pool parties. Sometimes we don’t leave the house for an entire weekend. I travel a lot, so this for me is a sanctuary. It’s like when people in New York City go to The Hamptons for the weekend. In LA we just don’t leave the house.”
How would you define yourself?
“Well, I would say I am very lucky and fortunate to be in a position in life with good health, a lovely family and home and a great career that allows me to be creative, expressive and mostly meet and work with the most beautiful and influential people around.“
Why did you decide to do what you do?
“It was really not planned – neither the styling part nor the shoe-designing part. I never really assisted anyone or did internships at a magazine to know what it was like to be a stylist. I just met stylists who would come to my store to pull clothes and saw how they work and was asked once or twice by my clients to style them and so I gave it a shot and then got a book together with loads of photo tests. Being based in LA I landed in rock’n’roll world. Music has always been my inspiration and once I started working with The Rolling Stones – since 1997 – I knew then I could do anything. In terms of shoes, my sister came to me with the idea of foldable leather slippers that would be like Moroccan-babouche-meets-English-gents slippers, and that was the beginning of NewbarK in 2009. To this day I’m still learning how to make a shoe! It’s a great experience.”
What would you say are the essentials to becoming famous in your profession?
“Acquire a talent and style that is unique to yourself and embrace it. Be professional, respectful and make a point to do things when you can really make a difference. Listen to your audience.”
What do you do to relax?
“I need to relax more and take afternoon naps. I’m not really there yet.”
What do you do for fun?
“Hang out with my daughter and make clothes for her Barbie dolls.”
Have you been to Disneyland? What was your favourite ride?
“Yes – the first time when we came to America to visit in 1975, and just recently again with my six-year-old daughter. My favourite ride has always been It’s a Small World.”
Health food or champagne?
“Definitely champagne – and healthy food makes a good balance.”
Photographer: Maria Ziegelboeck
By Vincent Levy
